And i realized i shoulda labeled where my new perennials are, cause i cant remember, even tho i was so sure i would! Why on earth did i think i could remember all that?

I see lots of returning and reseeding sprouts here. Even though I took a lot, and I mean a LOT of pictures, I can't remember where everything is. I dug into a clump of stargazers this morning trying to uproot something else. I was so mad. I put them back, but I sliced a few. I hope they can survive.

I think your clethra and hydrangeas should be ok. They both like water. If your soil drains fairly well, your roses should be fine, too.

Good luck! I know it's frustrating to see our gardens in a state of disrepair - especially if we aren't able to go outside and fix it.

I'm still lamenting the loss of some of my plants due to the cold. It happens. Hope your plants dry out enough for you to see that they are fine.

You're thinking of raised beds, but I'm wondering - do you have a place where the water can drain off? Sometimes that's possible and sometimes it's not. If not, you may want to raise the beds (in the back) to where the water drains and doesn't just sit there. However, if you have good soil, it may drain well enough on its own. Wish I could help you more.

Lilyfinch- I think the roses will be fine. I have CLAY soil that takes forever to dry out and so far, the roses have all been fine. It's going to take a while for all the snow to melt and all the water to soak in. We had that same problem the last two winters. The good news...the lilacs and the apple tree looked great with all the extra water :)

Thanks everyone! i took a walk to try to cheer up and saw that im not the only one with small lakes in the yard, so im trying to be optimistic! And if things dont make it i learned a little and can just try again. I just cant wait to dig in (instead of sink in!)
I really dont know if i have serious drainage issue, every spring i have some water puddles in the backyard, but the rest of summer is fine.
Im so glad i can come here to get reassurance , i feel like i know everyone in person, and you all bring a smile to my face!

Same thing happens here every year at the end of winter/early spring. It starts to rain (or snow melts quickly) while the ground it still frozen solid. Most of the garden turns into a lake! Standing water two or three inches deep across the main beds. It always disturbs me to see the garden in that state. I worry the plants might drown or rot out from all the water, but then the ground thaws, the water goes away, and the plants come up and bloom like mad. I can almost hear them laughing at my unwarranted freak-outs! I am sure your plants will be okay too lilyfinch ;-)
CMK

Same thing has happened here, but in most cases the plants survive.

Tom, my condolences on the Stargazers, just to let you know your not alone. Been there done, that unfortunatley more than once, it just picks my bananas when I end up slicing into a lily bulb.

Annette

All the new hummingbird mints I put in last spring all made it thru the winter and are starting to grow. Unlike the prior winter were I put lots of leaf mulch on top of them for the winter like an idiot. I know better but I did it anyway. They can not take so much soggy wet on top of them and rot. This time I did it right. I have a batch outside in the very front yard and am planning on ordering some more for the new small planterboxes that were created to the right of my new front walk steps.

It's still too early for me to figure out what has survived - most of the garden is still covered in snow! I believe today will be the 100th day in a row of snow cover. However, it should be in the 40's most of the week, so it is gradually getting uncovered. It's been a much more evenly cold and snowy winter than usual, so I am hopeful on the survival rate, but we shall see...